End connector assembly

ABSTRACT

The end connector assembly ( 12 ) for a gas spring ( 44 ) enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball ( 14 ) on the end of a ball stud ( 16 ) by relatively moving the connector body ( 26 ) and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring ( 44 ) to which the connector body ( 26 ) is connected. The ball ( 14 ) enters the connector body ( 26 ) through an opening ( 32 ) in the body&#39;s front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring&#39;s longitudinal axis. A slot in the body&#39;s bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball ( 14 ), accommodates the shaft portion ( 22 ) of the ball stud ( 16 ), adjacent the ball ( 14 ), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body ( 26 ) through the opening ( 32 ). A retainer clip is connected with the connector body ( 26 ) and is selectively movable between a first or open position where the ball may be admitted into or withdrawn from the connector body ( 26 ) and a second or closed position where the ball is secured within the connector body by the retainer clip ( 62 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of United States provisionalapplication Serial No. 60/181,006, filed Feb. 8, 2000. The entiredisclosure of the provisional application, referred to above, is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to end connector assemblies thatare adapted to be connected with and disconnected from the ball of aball stud, and more particularly, to end connector assemblies that areadapted for use with gas springs employed in automotive applications.

[0003] End connector assemblies have been used for years in manyapplications. These assemblies have been and are utilized tomechanically interconnect relatively movable parts. Increasingly, suchassemblies have been employed for use with gas springs in the automotivefield, where the gas springs are utilized to control the positioning ofrelatively movable parts. Examples of end connector assemblies, whichare usable in automotive applications, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,372,446; 5,417,512; and 5,676,484. The disclosures of these patentsare incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] In end connector assemblies currently being used with gas springsin automotive applications, the ball of a ball stud is inserted into theconnector body along a path normal to the longitudinal axis of the gasspring, that is, the axis of the gas spring shaft. In most currentconnector assemblies, once the connector body has properly engaged ontothe ball, a tool is required to remove the connector assembly from theball stud. The structures of currently available gas spring connectorassemblies make it inconvenient, time consuming and difficult for aperson to remove a gas spring end connector assembly from a ball stud.

[0005] An example of a situation of where the facile removal of a gasspring end connector assembly from a ball stud would be particularlydesirable and helpful is where the gas spring is used to control thepositioning of a tonneau cover or lid such as those used to cover thebed of a pickup truck. When the gas spring is fully extended, thetonneau cover is opened to a given angle. Removal of the gas spring endconnector assembly would allow the cover to be raised more fully so asto provide more open space for loading and unloading the pickup truckbed. This full raising of the tonneau cover requires a temporarydisconnection of one of the gas spring end connector assemblies.Additionally, full removal of the tonneau cover is sometimes desired inorder to transport large loads in the truck bed. This also requirestemporary disconnection of one of the gas spring end connectorassemblies.

[0006] Gas springs are frequently installed on vehicles so as to beclose as possible to adjacent parts of the vehicle and as unobtrusive aspracticable. Having to disconnect and reconnect a connector assembly tothe ball stud by moving the connector body along a path generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the ball stud is often difficultand time consuming.

[0007] A need has long existed for an end connector assembly that couldbe conveniently and facially disconnected from and then reconnected witha ball stud in the “field” and by movement along a path substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring on which theconnector assembly is mounted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In principal aspects, the improved end connector assembly of thepresent invention allows for the body of the connector assembly to beconnected with, disconnected from and re-connected with the ball on aball stud with a minimum of effort and time and by moving the connectorassembly along a path generally aligned with or parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the gas spring, that is, the longitudinal axis ofthe gas spring shaft. This invention is particularly advantageous whenone desires to raise a tonneau cover beyond its normally fully-openedposition—as when one desires to load and/or unload oversized cargo intoor from the pickup truck bed—since the connector body may be easilydisconnected from the fixed ball stud and then later re-connected withthe fixed ball stud when the cover is to be lowered back to its normal,fully opened position.

[0009] A novel retainer clip or gate, which is disposed in the front ofthe connector body, is readily movable between a first or open positionand a second or closed position. In its open position, the retainer clippermits the connector body to be moved, relative to the ball, in adirection generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gas spring.In its closed position, the retainer clip prevents the ball from beingwithdrawn from within the connector body. The retainer clip includes a“handle” that facilitates movement of the retainer clip between theopened and closed positions and also includes a detent, which cooperateswith detent portions on the connector body, to retain the retainer clipselectively in either its open or closed position. In other words, theretainer clip may be moved between its open and closed positions andretained in a selective one of these positions simply by grasping thehandle and without the need to use tools.

[0010] Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is toprovide an improved end connector assembly where the connector assemblymay be easily and readily disconnected and re-connected with a ballstud.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedend connector assembly where the connector body is adapted to beconnected with a ball, which has a predetermined diameter and which ison the end of a ball stud shaft; where the connector body is adapted tobe connected with the end of a gas spring; where the connector body hasan interior ball receiving socket cavity; where the connector bodyincludes a generally first or front surface, that is, a surface whichfaces away from the gas spring when the connector body is connected withthe gas spring; where this front surface includes a first opening whichhas a congruent shape and dimensions so that the ball and the adjacentportion of the ball stud shaft may pass through the first opening andinto and out of the socket cavity along a path generally parallel withthe longitudinal axis of the gas spring; and where a retainer clip maybe connected with the connector body so as to selectively move between afirst or open position in which the ball may pass into or out of thesocket cavity through the first opening and a second or closed positionin which the retainer clip prevents the passage of the ball out of thesocket cavity through the first opening. A related object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved end connector assembly, asdescribed, where the connector body includes a second surface that isadjacent the first surface and is disposed at an angle with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the gas spring when the connector body ismounted on the gas spring and that includes a first slot which has atransverse dimension greater than that of the transverse dimension ofthe adjacent portion of the shaft portion of the ball stud and whichextends from the first surface to adjacent the socket cavity.

[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide animproved end connector assembly, as described, where the retainer cliphas a first section and a second section; where each of the sectionshave a first end and a second end; where in the first ends of the firstand second sections are jointed by a hinge portion so that the retainerclip has a generally U-shaped cross section; where a portion of thesocket cavity has a diameter substantially equal to that of thepredetermined diameter of the ball; and where a portion of the secondsection has a shape that generally conforms to the outer shape of theball so that the ball is held in the socket cavity portion when the ballis in the socket cavity and when the retainer clip is in its second orclosed position.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide aimproved end connector assembly, as described, where the connector bodyincludes a second slot that extends adjacent the first surface; wherethe second slot extends from a third surface, which is adjacent to thefirst surface, toward the second surface, and where the second sectionof the retainer clip is disposed or mounted in the second slot when theretainer clip is in its first or open position.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide animproved end connector assembly, as described; where the retainer clipincludes a detent portion; where the connector body includes a firstdetent portion; and where the retainer clip detent portion cooperateswith the connector body's first detent portion when the retainer clip isin the first position so as to normally retain the retainer clip in thefirst position; where the connector body has a second detent portion;and where the retainer clip detent portion cooperates with the seconddetent portion of the connector body so as to normally retain theretainer clip in the second position.

[0015] These and other objects, benefits and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to those having skill in this art fromthe following description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an end connector assemblyof the present invention, showing the position of the assembly, relativeto a ball on the end of a ball stud, as the assembly is about to connectto (or has just been disconnected from) the ball;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a partial, longitudinal, axial cross-sectional view ofthe connector assembly of the present invention where the retainer clipin its open position;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 where the retainer clip in itsclosed position;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front or ball entry/ball withdrawalend of the connector body of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the retainer clip of thepresent invention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of the retainer clip of FIG. 5;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a rear or ball-engaging-side elevational view of theretainer clip of FIG. 5; and

[0023]FIG. 8 is a bottom elevational view of the retainer clip of FIG.5.

[0024] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentof the present invention, spatially orienting terms are used, such as“upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “inner,” “outer,”“upward,” “downward,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and the like. It is tobe understood that these terms are used for convenience of descriptionof the preferred embodiment with reference to the views shown in thedrawings. These terms do not necessarily describe the absolute locationin space that any part, etc. so described, must or would assume inactual use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, an end connector assembly 12 of thepresent invention is shown in a position where the assembly 12 is ableto be readily connected with a ball 14 that is on the end of an integralball stud 16. The ball 14 has a predetermined diameter and is supportedon a base portion 18 of the ball stud 16 by a shaft portion 22. The ballstud 16 is secured to a relatively fixed surface 24 that may, forexample, be a part of the bed of the pickup truck.

[0026] The assembly 12 includes a connector body or housing 26 that hasa ball receiving socket cavity 28. The connector body 26 is preferablyzinc die cast but, of course, could be made of other suitable materialsand methods, such as from a strong, moldable plastic material.

[0027] An opening 32 in the front or first surface 34 of the connectorbody 26 has a size and shape and is dimensioned so as to permit the ball14 to easily pass through the opening 32 and into or from the socketcavity 28. A second or rear surface 36 of the connector body 26 includesa threaded counterbore 38. The distal end of a reciprocally movableshaft 42 of a gas spring (shown diagrammatically at 44) may be threadedinto the counterbore 38 so that the longitudinal axis of the shaft 42,and thus the longitudinal axis of the gas spring 44, are aligned withthe longitudinal axis of the connector body 26.

[0028] One of the principal advantages of the assembly of the presentinvention is that the connector assembly 12 may be readily connected toor disconnected from the ball 14 of the ball stud 16 by moving, theassembly 12 (and the connector body 26) in a direction parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the gas spring 44. More particularly, the connectorbody 26 may be moved, relative to the ball 14, along a pathperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ball stud 16 so that theball 14 may pass through the opening 32 in the front surface 34 and intothe ball receiving socket cavity 28. Similarly, the ball 14 may bewithdrawn from the socket cavity 28 through the opening 32 by relativelymoving the connector body 26 in the opposite direction, that is, bymoving the connector body away from the ball 14 along a path parallel tothe longitudinal axes of the gas spring 44 and the connector body 26.

[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a portion 45 of the ballreceiving socket cavity 28 has a spherical shape and is dimensionedgenerally the same as the outer shape and dimension of the ball 14. Thesurface portion 45 is generally adjacent the rear surface 36 andgenerally faces the front surface 34. When the ball 14 is in the socketcavity 28, it presses against the surface portion 45, as explainedbelow, so as to eliminate possible vibrational noise due to relativemovement between the ball 14 and the connector body 26.

[0030] A horizontal slot 48 is located in the bottom or third surface 46of the connector body 26. The slot 48 extends from the front surface 34to just beyond the socket cavity 28 and communicates with the opening32. The slot's longitudinal axis is aligned with the longitudinal axisof the connector body 26. The transverse width or side-to-side dimensionof the slot 48 is slightly larger than the shaft portion 22, adjacentthe ball 14, such that when the ball 14 is introduced into or removedfrom the socket cavity 28, the shaft portion 22 may be accommodatedwithin the slot 48.

[0031] A second, vertical slot 52 begins in the upper or top wall 54 ofthe connector body 26 and extends downwardly through the upper portionsof the connector body's side walls 56. The slot 52 is disposed adjacentand substantially parallel with the front surface 34 and communicates,at its lower end, with the socket cavity 28.

[0032] A retainer clip or gate 62, which is best illustrated in FIGS.5-8, is utilized to selectively either retain the ball 14 within thesocket cavity 28 or to permit the ball to be introduced into or to bewithdrawn from the socket cavity 28 through the opening 32. Morespecifically and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the retainer clip 62 isin its first or open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the ball 14 mayeasily pass into and out of the cavity 28 through the opening 32.Alternatively, when the retainer clip 62 is in its closed or secondposition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the retainer clip prevents the ball14 from being removed from (or from entering into) the socket cavity 28through the opening 32.

[0033] As best shown in FIGS. 5-8, the retainer clip 62 may preferablybe made from tempered steel (Rockwell hardness C50) although it couldalso be made of other suitable materials. The retainer clip includes afront or first section 64 and a second or rear section 66. The first orupper ends of the sections 64 and 66 are joined by an integral, centralhinge section or portion 68. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rearsection 66 is disposed within the slot 52, and the front section 64 isdisposed adjacent to and abutting the front surface 34. The lower ends72 and 74 of the sections 64 and 66, respectively, tend to havespring-like flexibility such that when these section ends are moved fromthe position shown in FIG. 5, they tend to return to that position.

[0034] The lower end 72 of the front section 64 is divided into three“paddle”-like portions: a central portion 78 and two side portions 82and 84. The lower ends of the side portions 82 and 84 each have acurved, generally “V” shaped “joggle” or detent 86 and 88, respectively.The detents 86 and 88 are disposed slightly inwardly (that is, towardthe rear section 66) from the plane of the rest of the portions 82 and84. When the retainer clip 62 is in a “relaxed” state (that is, when itis not mounted on the connector body), the distance between the detents86 and 88 and the rear section 66 is less than the thickness of theportion of the connector body between the slot 52 and the front surface34. Hence, when the retainer clip 62 is mounted in the slot 52, thedetents 86 and 88 are “sprung” and forced against the front surface 34.

[0035] The front surface 34 includes a laterally spaced, upper pair ofdetent receiving grooves 92 and 94 and a laterally spaced, lower pair ofdetent receiving grooves 96 and 98. The grooves 92, 94, 96 and 98 arelocated, on the front surface 34, above and below, respectively and onopposite sides of the opening 32. The grooves 92-98 are horizontallydisposed and are sized so that they may be selectively engaged by thedetents 86 and 88. More particularly, the detents 86 and 88 resilientlyengage the slots 96 and 98, respectively, when the retainer clip 62 isin its closed (FIG. 3) position. Similarly, when the retainer clip 62 isin its open (FIG. 2) position, the detents 86 and 88 resiliently engagethe grooves 92 and 94, respectively. The engagement between the detents86 and 88, and the grooves 92, 94 or 96, 98 hold the retainer clip 62 inits open or closed position, as the case may be.

[0036] The lower end of the central portion 78 of the front section 64is curved so as to define a generally “U” shaped “tongue” or handle 100for use in moving the retainer clip 62 between its open and its closedpositions, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 2, respectively. When the retainerclip is in its open position, the rearwardly directed, distal end 102 ofthe handle 100 abuts an upper portion of the opening 32 so as to preventfurther upward movement of the retainer clip relative to the connector.The retainer clip 62 may, however, be removed, if desired, from theconnector body 26 by pulling the handle 100 away from the rear section66 so that the end 102 “clears” the opening 32 in the front surface 34.Because of the inherent spring biasing effect of the hinge section 68, apositive, relatively strong pulling force on the handle 100 is requiredto effect the removal of the retainer clip 62 from the connector housing26, but no tools are needed.

[0037] The rear section 66 of the retainer clip 62 includes a ballsupporting protrusion 104. More specifically, the protrusion 104includes side portions 106 and 108 and a central portion 112. Therearwardly facing or ball facing surfaces of the portions 106, 108 and112 are curved and dimensioned so that they conform to the sphericalsurface of the ball 14 when the ball 14 is within the socket cavity 28.The dimensions of the protrusion 104, the ball 14 and the socket cavity28 are such that when the ball 14 is in the socket cavity 28 and theretainer clip 62 is in its closed position, the ball rests betweenportions 106 and 108 and the portion 112 contacts the surface of theballs 14 and hold the ball 14 firmly against the spherical portion 45 ofthe socket cavity 28.

[0038] While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed and illustrated above, it should be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to this preferred embodiment, sincemodifications can be made by those skilled in the art, particularly inlight of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore contemplated that theappended claims will include all such modifications, which come withinthe spirit and the scope of the present invention.

I claim:
 1. An improved end connector assembly that is adapted to beconnected with and disconnected from a ball on the end of a ball stud,where the ball has a predetermined diameter and where the shaft portionof the ball stud, which is adjacent the ball, has a smaller transversedimension than the predetermined diameter of the ball, and that isadapted to be connected with the end of a gas spring, where the gasspring has the longitudinal axis, the captive ball and end connectorassembly comprising: a connector body that has an interior, ballreceiving socket cavity; that includes a first surface, which facesgenerally away from the gas spring when the connector body is connectedwith the gas spring; and that has a first opening in the first surface,with the first opening having a shape and dimensions so that the balland the adjacent shaft portion of the ball stud may selectively passthrough the first opening from the exterior of the connector body intothe socket cavity and from the socket cavity to the exterior of theconnector body along a path generally parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the gas spring; and a retainer clip that may be connected withthe connector body so as to be selectively moved between a firstposition, where the ball may pass through the first opening, and secondposition, where the retainer clip prevents the passage of the ball outof the socket cavity through the first opening.
 2. The improved endconnector assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the connector bodyincludes a second surface that is adjacent to the first surface, that isdisposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gasspring when the connector body is connected with the gas spring, andthat includes a first slot which has a transverse dimension greater thanthat of the transverse dimension of the adjacent shaft portion of theball stud and which extends between the first surface and adjacent thesocket cavity.
 3. The improved end connector assembly as described inclaim 2 wherein the plane of the first opening in the first surface isgenerally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas spring. 4.The improved end connector assembly as described in claim 2 wherein theplane of the first slot is generally parallel to the longitudinal axisof the gas spring.
 5. The improved end connector assembly as describedin claim 2 wherein the plane of the first opening in the first surfaceis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas spring; and whereinthe plane of the first slot is parallel to the longitudinal axis of thegas spring.
 6. The improved end connector assembly as described in claim1 wherein a portion of the socket cavity has a diameter substantiallyequal to that of the predetermined diameter of the ball; and wherein theretainer clip includes a portion that is disposed adjacent to and servesto hold the ball against the socket cavity portion when the retainerclip is in the second position and when the ball is in the socketcavity.
 7. The improved end connector assembly as described in claim 1wherein the retainer clip includes a detent portion; wherein theconnector body includes a first detent portion; and wherein the retainerclip detent portion cooperates with the connector body first detentportion when the retainer clip is in the first position so as tonormally retain the retainer clip in the first position.
 8. The improvedend connector assembly as described in claim 7 wherein the connectorbody has a second detent portion; and wherein the retainer clip detentportion cooperates with the second detent portion of the connector bodyso as to normally retain the retainer clip in the second position. 9.The improved end connector assembly as described in claim 1 wherein theretainer clip includes a handle portion for use in moving the retainerclip between the first and second portions.
 10. The improved endconnector assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the retainer clipincludes a first section and a second section; wherein each of the firstand second sections have a first end and a second end; and wherein thefirst ends of the first and second sections are joined by a hingedportion so that the retainer clip has a generally U-shaped,cross-section.
 11. The improved end connector assembly as described inclaim 10 wherein the retainer clip includes a detent portion adjacentthe second end of the first section; wherein the connector body includesa first detent portion; and wherein the retainer clip detent portioncooperates with the connector body first detent portion when theretainer clip is in the first position so as to normally retain theretainer clip in the first position.
 12. The improved end connectorassembly as described in claim 11 wherein the connector body has asecond detent portion; and wherein the retainer clip detent portioncooperates with the second detent portion of the connector body so as tonormally retain the retainer clip in the second position.
 13. Theimproved end connector assembly as described in claim 10 wherein aportion of the socket cavity has a diameter substantially equal to thatof the predetermined diameter of the ball; and wherein the secondsection of the retainer clip includes a portion that is disposedadjacent to and serves to hold the ball against the socket cavityportion when the retainer clip is in the second position and when theball is in the socket cavity.
 14. The improved end connector assembly asdescribed in claim 10 wherein the connector body includes a thirdsurface adjacent the first surface; wherein the connector body includesa second slot that is adjacent the first surface; wherein the secondslot extends from the third surface toward the second surface; andwherein the second section of the retention clip is mounted within thesecond slot when the retainer clip is in the first position.
 15. Theimproved end connector assembly as described in claim 14 wherein thefirst section of the retainer clip is disposed adjacent the firstsurface; and wherein the hinge portion of the retainer clip is disposedbetween the second slot and the first surface and adjacent the thirdsurface when the retainer clip is in the first position.
 16. Theimproved end connector assembly as described in claim 2 wherein theretainer clip includes a first section and a second section; whereineach of the first and second sections have a first end and a second end;and wherein the first ends of the first and second sections are joinedby a hinged portion so that the retainer clip has a generally U-shapedcross-section
 17. The improved end connector assembly as described inclaim 16 wherein the connector body includes a third surface adjacentthe first surface; wherein the connector body includes a second slotthat is adjacent the first surface; wherein the second slot extends fromthe third surface toward the second surface; and wherein the secondsection of the retention clip is mounted within the second slot when theretainer clip is in the first position.
 18. The improved end connectorassembly as described in claim 17 wherein the plane of the first openingin the first surface is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axisof the gas spring; wherein the plane of the first slot is generallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the gas spring.
 19. The improvedend connector assembly as described in claim 18 wherein the retainerclip includes a detent portion adjacent the second end of the firstsection; wherein the connector body includes a first detent portion; andwherein the retainer clip detent portion cooperates with the connectorbody first detent portion when the retainer clip is in the firstposition so as to normally retain the retainer clip in the firstposition.
 20. The improved end connector assembly as described in claim19 wherein the connector body has a second detent portion; and whereinthe retainer clip detent portion cooperates with the second detentportion of the connector body so as to normally retain the retainer clipin the second position.
 21. The improved end connector assembly asdescribed in claim 10 wherein a portion of the socket cavity has adiameter substantially equal to that of the predetermined diameter ofthe ball; and wherein the second section of the retainer clip includes aportion that is disposed adjacent to and serves to hold the ball againstthe socket cavity portion when the retainer clip is in the secondposition and when the ball is in the socket cavity.
 22. The improved endconnector assembly as described in claim 21 wherein the first section ofthe retainer clip includes a handle portion for use in moving theretainer clip between the first and second positions.
 23. An improvedretainer clip for use with an end connector assembly that is adapted tobe connected with and disconnected from a ball on the end of a ballstud, where the ball has a predetermined diameter and where the shaftportion of the ball stud, which is adjacent the ball, has a smallertransverse dimension than the predetermined diameter of the ball, andthat is adapted to be connected with the end of a gas spring, where thegas spring has the longitudinal axis; where the captive ball and endconnector assembly includes a connector body that has an interior, ballreceiving socket cavity; that includes a first surface, which facesgenerally away from the gas spring when the connector body is connectedwith the gas spring; and that has a first opening in the first surface,with the first opening having a shape and dimensions so that the balland the adjacent shaft portion of the ball stud may selectively passthrough the first opening from the exterior of the connector body intothe socket cavity and from the socket cavity to the exterior of theconnector body along a path generally parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the gas spring; the improved retainer clip having a body thatmay be connected with the connector body so that the retainer clip maybe selectively moved between a first position, where the ball may passthrough the first opening, and second position, where the retainer clipprevents the passage of the ball out of the socket cavity through thefirst opening.
 24. The improved retainer clip as described in claim 23wherein the retainer clip includes a detent portion; wherein theconnector body includes a first detent portion; and wherein the retainerclip detent portion cooperates with the connector body first detentportion when the retainer clip is in the first position so as tonormally retain the retainer clip in the first position.
 25. Theimproved retainer clip as described in claim 24 wherein the connectorbody has a second detent portion; and wherein the retainer clip detentportion cooperates with the second detent portion of the connector bodyso as to normally retain the retainer clip in the second position. 26.The improved retainer clip as described in claim 23 wherein the retainerclip includes a handle portion for use in moving the retainer clipbetween the first and second positions.
 27. The improved retainer clipas described in claim 23 wherein the retainer clip includes a firstsection and a second section; wherein each of the first and secondsections have a first end and a second end; and wherein the first endsof the first and second sections are joined by a hinged portion so thatthe retainer clip has a generally U-shaped, cross-section.
 28. Theimproved retainer clip as described in claim 27 wherein the retainerclip includes a detent portion adjacent the second end of the firstsection; wherein the connector body includes a first detent portion; andwherein the retainer clip detent portion cooperates with the connectorbody first detent portion when the retainer clip is in the firstposition so as to normally retain the retainer clip in the firstposition.